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‘One of Nobel's last significant discoveries was closely related to his work with blasting gelatin.’

‘He continued to develop new explosive devices: blasting gelatin in 1875, and in 1887 a smokeless blasting powder called ballistite, which influenced weapons design for the next quarter century.’

‘Ammonia gelatin is made by adding ammonium nitrate and other ingredients to blasting gelatin.’

‘Typically he set about his task straight away and it was not long until he had produced a jelly type substance which was to become blasting gelatin.’

‘He also continued to experiment in search of better ones, and in 1875 he invented a more powerful form of dynamite, blasting gelatin, which he patented the following year.’

‘One thing that sprang to mind was blasting gelatin.’

‘Nobel was the owner of more than 350 patented inventions during his lifetime, including the blasting cap, blasting gelatin, and ballistite, one of the first nitroglycerine smokeless powders to be used as a substitute for black gunpowder.’

‘In 1875 Nobel created blasting gelatin, a colloidal suspension of nitrocellulose in glycerin, and in 1887 ballistite, a nearly smokeless powder especially suitable for propelling military projectiles.’

‘He later made new discoveries - primarily blasting gelatin and ballistite - and his industrial enterprises, as well as his fortune, grew.’

‘Since that time - and even more since Nobel's development of nitroglycerin-based blasting gelatin in 1875-its impact on the mining and construction industries has been profound.’

Origin

Early 19th century: from French gélatine, from Italian gelatina, from gelata, from Latin (see jelly).